Below I have taken Chapter 4 of the Nan-Ching “Classic of 81 Difficult Issues” directly from Paul U. Unschuld’s translation.
“The fourth difficult issue: The [movement in the] vessels may display patterns of yin and yang. What does that mean?
It is like this. [That which is] exhaled originates from the heart and from the lung; [that which is] inhaled enters the kidneys and the liver. Between exhalation and inhalation-the spleen receives the taste [influences] of the grains; its [movement in the] vessels is located in the centre. Those [movements in the vessels that can be felt] at the surface are yang [movements; those that can be felt] in the depth are yin [movements]. Hence, one speaks of yin and yang [patterns].
Heart and lung [movements] are both located near the surface; how can they be distinguished?
It is like this. A strong but dispersed [movement] at the surface is [associated with] the heart. A rough [movement] of short periods at the surface is [associated with] the lung.
[The movements associated with] the liver and with the kidneys are both located in the depth; how can they be distinguished?
It is like this. A firm and extensive [movement in the depth is associated with] the liver. A [movement in the depth that is] soft and appears replete when the finger is [pressed down to the bone first and then] lifted is [associated with] the kidneys. The spleen is [associated with] the central region, therefore its [movement in the] vessels is located in the centre. (10) These are the patterns of yin and yang.
The [movement in the] vessels may display, it is said, "one yin one yang," "one yin two yang," [or] "one yin three yang," [or] it may display "one yang one yin," "one yang two yin," [or] "one yang three yin." Does [that mean that] there are six vessels at the inch-opening, all displaying a movement at the same time?
It is like this. These terms do not imply that there are six vessels all moving at the same time. What is meant is [that there are movements that can be felt] at the surface or in the depth which are extensive or short, smooth or rough. [A movement] at the surface is a yang [movement]. A smooth [movement] is a yang [movement]. An extensive [movement] is a yang [movement. A movement] in the depth is a yin [movement]. A short [movement] is a yin [movement]. A rough [movement] is a yin [movement]. "One yin one yang" means that the [movement in the] vessels comes in the depth and is smooth. "One yin two yang" means that the [movement in the] vessels comes in the depth and is smooth and extensive, "One yin three yang" means that the [movement in the] vessels comes at the surface, is rough and extensive, and appears, once in a while, in the depth. "One yang one yin" means that the [movement in the] vessels comes at the surface and is rough. "One yang two yin" means that the [movement in the] vessels comes in long strides, is situated in the depth, and is rough. "One yang three yin" means that the [movement in the] vessels comes in the depth, is rough and short, and appears, once in a while, at the surface. In each case, one determines on the basis of the location of the [movement in the] conduits whether [the influences] in case of an illness proceed contrary to or in accordance with their proper course.” (Unschuld 1986, p. 101)
Notes:
“The first difficult issue introduced one single location (i.e. the inch-opening at the wrist) as sufficient to examine the movement in the vessels. The second and third difficult issues introduced a differentiation among three cross-sections (foot, gate, and inch) within the inch-opening. By outlining the yin and yang correspondences of the foot- and inch-sections, the second and the third difficult issues indicated a first possibility of how to examine the status of yin and yang functional units in the organism by simply checking the vessel movements at these sections. Here, in the fourth difficult issue, two further diagnostic patterns are introduced, allowing for an even more sophisticated differential examination of the condition of the various depots and palaces on the basis of their yin or yang categorization. The first of these new patterns was developed through a differentiation among three longitudinal levels of the inch-opening-namely, upper (i.e., "at the surface) (central)， and (lower) (i.e., "in the depth"); these three levels correspond to yang, neither yin nor yang, and yin, respectively.
The second new diagnostic pattern resulted from an identification-on the basis of the sixfold subcategorization of yin and yang-of three characteristic yin and yang movements in the vessels, associated, again, with the individual functional units of the organism.” (Unschuld 1986, p. 120)
As always, feel free to contact me with any questions.
Warm Regards,
Giancarlo Nerini – Acupuncturist (Melbourne)
“The fourth difficult issue: The [movement in the] vessels may display patterns of yin and yang. What does that mean?
It is like this. [That which is] exhaled originates from the heart and from the lung; [that which is] inhaled enters the kidneys and the liver. Between exhalation and inhalation-the spleen receives the taste [influences] of the grains; its [movement in the] vessels is located in the centre. Those [movements in the vessels that can be felt] at the surface are yang [movements; those that can be felt] in the depth are yin [movements]. Hence, one speaks of yin and yang [patterns].
Heart and lung [movements] are both located near the surface; how can they be distinguished?
It is like this. A strong but dispersed [movement] at the surface is [associated with] the heart. A rough [movement] of short periods at the surface is [associated with] the lung.
[The movements associated with] the liver and with the kidneys are both located in the depth; how can they be distinguished?
It is like this. A firm and extensive [movement in the depth is associated with] the liver. A [movement in the depth that is] soft and appears replete when the finger is [pressed down to the bone first and then] lifted is [associated with] the kidneys. The spleen is [associated with] the central region, therefore its [movement in the] vessels is located in the centre. (10) These are the patterns of yin and yang.
The [movement in the] vessels may display, it is said, "one yin one yang," "one yin two yang," [or] "one yin three yang," [or] it may display "one yang one yin," "one yang two yin," [or] "one yang three yin." Does [that mean that] there are six vessels at the inch-opening, all displaying a movement at the same time?
It is like this. These terms do not imply that there are six vessels all moving at the same time. What is meant is [that there are movements that can be felt] at the surface or in the depth which are extensive or short, smooth or rough. [A movement] at the surface is a yang [movement]. A smooth [movement] is a yang [movement]. An extensive [movement] is a yang [movement. A movement] in the depth is a yin [movement]. A short [movement] is a yin [movement]. A rough [movement] is a yin [movement]. "One yin one yang" means that the [movement in the] vessels comes in the depth and is smooth. "One yin two yang" means that the [movement in the] vessels comes in the depth and is smooth and extensive, "One yin three yang" means that the [movement in the] vessels comes at the surface, is rough and extensive, and appears, once in a while, in the depth. "One yang one yin" means that the [movement in the] vessels comes at the surface and is rough. "One yang two yin" means that the [movement in the] vessels comes in long strides, is situated in the depth, and is rough. "One yang three yin" means that the [movement in the] vessels comes in the depth, is rough and short, and appears, once in a while, at the surface. In each case, one determines on the basis of the location of the [movement in the] conduits whether [the influences] in case of an illness proceed contrary to or in accordance with their proper course.” (Unschuld 1986, p. 101)
Notes:
“The first difficult issue introduced one single location (i.e. the inch-opening at the wrist) as sufficient to examine the movement in the vessels. The second and third difficult issues introduced a differentiation among three cross-sections (foot, gate, and inch) within the inch-opening. By outlining the yin and yang correspondences of the foot- and inch-sections, the second and the third difficult issues indicated a first possibility of how to examine the status of yin and yang functional units in the organism by simply checking the vessel movements at these sections. Here, in the fourth difficult issue, two further diagnostic patterns are introduced, allowing for an even more sophisticated differential examination of the condition of the various depots and palaces on the basis of their yin or yang categorization. The first of these new patterns was developed through a differentiation among three longitudinal levels of the inch-opening-namely, upper (i.e., "at the surface) (central)， and (lower) (i.e., "in the depth"); these three levels correspond to yang, neither yin nor yang, and yin, respectively.
The second new diagnostic pattern resulted from an identification-on the basis of the sixfold subcategorization of yin and yang-of three characteristic yin and yang movements in the vessels, associated, again, with the individual functional units of the organism.” (Unschuld 1986, p. 120)
As always, feel free to contact me with any questions.
Warm Regards,
Giancarlo Nerini – Acupuncturist (Melbourne)
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